Published: Friday, 31st March 2017
HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited Stories of Lynn at King's Lynn Town Hall to take a tour of this new Heritage Lottery Funded attraction and to unveil a plaque to mark its official opening.
His Royal Highness was accompanied by HM Lord-Lieutenant Mr Richard Jewson and greeted by the Mayor of King's Lynn & West Norfolk Cllr David Whitby, Henry Bellingham MP, Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk Chief Executive Ray Harding, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Mike Fawcett and Miss Dayna Woolbright, Museum Curator.
The Royal Party took a tour of the museum, pausing to view story boards showing the restoration of the Old Gaol House and Regalia Rooms into the current museum.
The tour took in the Eight Centuries exhibition, Walter Coney's windowsill and the treasury which features the King John Cup.
Pupils from Whitefriars Primary School were enjoying a storytelling session in the Hanseatic area of the museum.
The Royal Party headed into the King's Lynn Borough Archives where His Royal Highness was invited to view the Red Register and the 1204 King John Charter before moving on to the Education Room to meet more pupils who were taking part in a 'Medieval Merchants of Lynn' workshop.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Old Gaol House before moving to the Gateway Room, where the Mayor invited His Royal Highness to unveil a commemorative plaque marking the occasion.
About Stories of Lynn
Medieval Lynn was a port of international importance and one of the largest port towns in England. Its status can be seen in the rich legacy of magnificent buildings and architecture, amazing collections of artefacts and comprehensive borough archive.
Set within the magnificent, newly-revealed vaulted undercroft of the 15th-century Trinity Guildhall, Stories of Lynn is a unique attraction. It combines the town's fascinating collection of objects and its extensive and nationally significant archive and brings them to life in an interactive and multi-media exhibition.
Visitors of all ages can discover the stories of the seafarers, explorers, merchants, mayors, magistrates and miscreants who shaped 800 years of the town's history.
The revitalised town hall complex acts as a gateway to the town’s other heritage sites including the Red Mount Chapel, neighbouring King’s Lynn Minster, Greyfriars Tower, True's Yard, St. Nicholas’ Chapel and Lynn Museum.
Extensive work to the town hall complex and the creation of the new Stories of Lynn exhibition has been made possible by a grant of £1,850,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £800,000 from the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk and investments from other funders.
For more information go to www.kingslynntownhall.com.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery @HLFEoE